Fire-escape.



No. 702,858. Patented June I7, v1902.

B. F, HENDRICKS vE. THOMPSON.

FIRE ESCAPE. Y

(Application led Nov. 2, 1901.)

(No Model.)

un O' UNiTnn Sterns ATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. IIENDRIOKS AND ELLSWORTH THOMPSON, OF QUINOY, ILLINOIS.

FiRE-ESCAPE-I.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 702,858, dated June 17, 1902.

Application led November 2, 1901. Serial No. 80,923. (No model.)

T0 all wtom/ t may concern:

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN F. HEN- DRIcKs and ELLswoRTH THOMPSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Fire-Escape, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to lire-escapes, and more particularly to that class known as portable friction7 fire-escapes, in which a friction device slides upon an escaperope, the operator being suspended by means of a suitable harness attached to the friction device.

The object of this invention is to provide a fire-escape embodying the above-mentioned characteristics which shall be simple, durable, and highly ecient.

Vith these objects in view the invention consists in the peculiar construction of the several parts and in their novel combination or arrangement, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view illustratin g the practical application of our invention. Fig. L is a perspective view of the friction device and harness. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the friction device, the face-plate being removed. Fig. 4t is a section on the line 4 4c of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the bearing-plates. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of one of the brake-blocks. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the friction-drums.

In carrying out our invention we employ a metallic block` A, which is formed with an opening A adjacent to its upper end, and located in the said opening at each side are the bearing-frames B, slotted longitudinally, as shown at B', and journaled in the said slotted frames are the friction-drums C, the journals C turning in the slots B of the frames B, while the ends C2 are provided with intermeshing pinions D, and the axle of one of the friction-drums is extended beyond the block and provided with suitable crank E. The rope F, which is made fast at its upper end, passes centrally through the block, a vertical bore G extending entirely through the block for said purpose. A rope F passes between the friction-drums, which are corru.

gated, as shown, and in order to forcibly hold the said drums against the rope we employ the brake-blocks H, which are arranged within the opening A and slide in the slotted frames, the ends H bearing against the journals C of the friction-drums, and regulatingscrews I are passed through the ends of the casing and bear against the brake-blocks for the purpose of regulating the tension upon the rope. The face-plates J are screwed upon the front and rear face of the blockfor the purpose of holding the mechanism in its proper position. Supporting-ropes K are attached to the bottom of the block A and terminate in loops K, and the belt L is attached to the said supporting-ropes intermediate its ends. The ropes K can be made any length desired, and the loops K can serve as straps for the operatorto stand in, or the loops can be used to support the body by passing the legs therethrough and fastening the strap around the waist, as most clearly shown in Fig. l. The crankhandle is then graspedin the right hand and the descent can be regulated by the operator, and in case it is desired to increase or decrease the friction it can be done by turning the regulatingscrew I in or out. By employing two regulating-screws the device is susceptible of use by either a right or left handed person. By having the friction-drums corrugated all danger of the ropes slipping is avoided, and by having intermeshing gears or pinions upon both ends of both frictiondrums the operation of the said drums is equalized and lmade uniform. It will thus be seen that we provide an exceedingly simple and efficient construct-ion of portable friction fire-escape.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A lire-escape comprising in combination a block having an opening therein, frictiondrums arranged in said opening, brake-blocks bearing against the journals of the said friction-drums,regulatingscrews bearing against the said friction-drums, the intermeshing gears L connected to the friction-drums, and

IOO

opening in the block, the friction-drums journaled in the said bearing-frame, the brakeblocks sliding in the said frames and bearing upon the journals of the frictiondrums, the regulating-screws passing through the ends of the block and bearing against the ends of the friction-blocks, the intermeshing gears mounted upon the ends of the friction-drums, the operating crank-handle attached to one of the friction-drums, the supporting-harness and face-plates, all arranged to operate as shown and described.

BENJAMIN F. HENDRICKS. ELLSWORTH THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. WHEELocK, CHARLES H. SPENCER. 

